Direction A: “Environmental Planning and Management of Natural Resources”
Historical development and formulation of environmental policy; environmental decision-making processes and stakeholder involvement in effective environmental protection; environmental policy and citizens, Non-Governmental Environmental Organizations; analysis of contemporary environmental problems, environmental trends and problems in Europe; the internationalization of the environment; the concept of environmental governance’ global environmental governance, international environmental partnerships, conventions, agreements and treaties on the environment, biodiversity and natural resources; forms and mechanisms of environmental governance; developed and developing countries; land use policies; international institutions and the European Union; supervision and regulatory intervention; environmental law in Greece, in the European Union and internationally; environmental action programs and evaluation; policies for the protection and promotion of protected natural areas; environmental Communication and Interpreting; business and the scientific community; the role of research and innovation; institutional weaknesses in the governance system; empowerment of the institutional governance framework for sustainable development.
Introductory concepts, historical background; the importance of biodiversity; levels of biodiversity; measurement of biodiversity; indicators of diversity; quantification and assessment of biodiversity; biodiversity in grassland ecosystems; effect of grazing on biodiversity; management of endangered wildlife species; characteristics of rare species; impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity; protected object, important, endangered and rare species of flora and habitat types, priority species, conservation status of species and habitat types; method of research and collection of flora and vegetation data; evaluation of data, management proposals, monitoring biodiversity legislation, Natura 2000 network; case studies.
Introduction to atmospheric sciences: Atmosphere, Weather and Climate; natural mechanisms of climate change; paleoclimatic changes; anthropogenic intervention in the climate system; climate trends; climate change scenarios and projections for the future; impact on agricultural production and food security impact on forest ecosystems; impact on public health; adaptation and mitigation.
Aims and logic of scientific research; social research – environmental research; research tools and research techniques; descriptive and analytical statistics; data collection, data processing and analysis; interpretation and presentation of research results; literature search and review; organization and writing of research paper.
Introduction to the concepts of circular economy and sustainable development; from the linear to the circular economy; the need to transition to the new era of sustainability; the development of an economy friendly to the environment and society; Circular Economy and Entrepreneurship; European Strategy for the Circular Economy; production factors, organization, analysis and their impact on sustainable development; the distribution and scarcity of resources; socio-economic impact of the use of natural resources; indicators of sustainable development. Population, economic development, the environment and the countryside; development and the Third World; renewable energy sources; financial instruments of the European Union; the European Strategy for Sustainable Development; the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations; business and sustainable development; case studies.
Direction B: “Environmental Education and Communication”
Historical development and formulation of environmental policy; environmental decision-making processes and stakeholder involvement in effective environmental protection; environmental policy and citizens, Non-Governmental Environmental Organizations; analysis of contemporary environmental problems, environmental trends and problems in Europe; the internationalization of the environment; the concept of environmental governance’ global environmental governance, international environmental partnerships, conventions, agreements and treaties on the environment, biodiversity and natural resources; forms and mechanisms of environmental governance; developed and developing countries; land use policies; international institutions and the European Union; supervision and regulatory intervention; environmental law in Greece, in the European Union and internationally; environmental action programs and evaluation; policies for the protection and promotion of protected natural areas; environmental Communication and Interpreting; business and the scientific community; the role of research and innovation; institutional weaknesses in the governance system; empowerment of the institutional governance framework for sustainable development.
What is Teaching?; basic principles and theoretical approaches to teaching and learning; curricula; teaching models; the five-stage model; Kolb’s model; Gross’s model; the model of four learning modes; applications of didactic models to environmental issues by the teacher (I); applications of didactic models to environmental issues by the teacher (II); applications of didactic models to environmental issues by the teacher (III); applications of teaching models to environmental issues by students.
Historical background and characteristics of Environmental Education; environmentally responsible behaviour and assessment models; relationships between the variables that determine the formation of environmentally responsible behavior; environmental sensitivity; forms of Environmental Education; Mass Media and Environmental Education; factors influencing the functioning of Mass Media; the impact of Mass Media; Mass Media as environmental educators; Mass Media and environmental awareness; Mass Media and environmental information; public opinion as an object of political communication; different views of public opinion, in relation to political culture and the democratic public sphere; citizen involvement in decision-making processes; factors encouraging and determining participation; citizen involvement in environmental protection.
Environment and society, man-nature interaction; key international and national environmental issues; basic concepts of environmental science used in a wide social context (biodiversity, ecological footprint); the value and meaning of volunteerism; historical background; categories of voluntary actions; international volunteerism programs; contribution of volunteerism in solving environmental issues; natural disasters and volunteerism; social impact of environmental volunteering, causes; institutional framework for environmental volunteerism, bodies, legislation, operating framework in Greece and in the EU; organization of voluntary actions, coordination of volunteers, conflict management; NGOs and volunteerism, evaluation of actions and programs; Case studies: Greenpeace, Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth International World Wildlife Fund.
Aims and logic of scientific research; social research – environmental research; research tools and research techniques; descriptive and analytical statistics; data collection, data processing and analysis; interpretation and presentation of research results; literature search and review; organization and writing of research paper.
